2015 Hero Splendor Pro ChooseMyBike.in Review

on 2, November 2015

By

Jaichandran Jayapalan

If the Bullet is synonymous with Royal Enfield, for Hero Motocorp, it is the Splendor. First launched in 1994, the Splendor quickly endeared itself to the Indian masses, thanks to its exceptional fuel-efficiency, and reliable mechanicals. Now, Hero has introduced an all-new Splendor Pro, which comes with a host of improvements to help fend increasing competition. We take it for a ride and find out what it’s like.

Design, Build Quality, & Ergonomics

While the old Splendor Pro wasn’t high on aesthelics, the new version looks quite striking. The body panels are all new, and have a sharper edge to them, making the bike look quite attractive. The new redesigned headlight cowl gives the bike a smart appearance. Build quality has also gone up a few notches. The bike feels well put-together, and the powder-coated wheels and engine give it a premium feel.

The Splendor Pro offers riders upright ergonomics, which bodes well for city rides. However, tall riders will find it slightly cramped, given the compact dimensions of the bike.

Performance & Mileage

The new Splendor Pro employs the same tried-and-tested engine that powers most of Hero Motocorp’s commuters. It is similar to the one used on the Splendor Pro Classic, churning out a bit more power than the Splendor Plus. The engine feels quite smooth and tractable, pulling effortlessly all the way to 60 kmph. Any faster, and it feels quite strained. The only bugbear we faced with the powertrain was the gearbox. It felt hard to shift from one gear to the next, but we reckon it’d improve over time.

Dynamics

Thanks to its compact dimensions, the Splendor Pro is quite a nimble handling bike, making riding through traffic a cake walk. Ride quality still has a slightly hard edge to it, but it is fairly compliant at speed.

As for braking, the bike comes equipped with 130mm dia. drums on the front and rear wheels. Braking efficiency feels more than adequate at speeds less than 50 kmph, but as is the case with drum brakes, their effectiveness tends to reduce at speeds above that.

Features

The new Splendor Pro comes with a stylish new instrument console, which gives it a contemporary feel. As far as features go, the bike gets electric start and alloy wheels as standard. Also included are a side stand on indicator, and a pass light switch, both of which should prove to be really useful.

Final Word

The new Hero Splendor Pro still retains the core values of the original Splendor, while enhancing its appeal with a new stylish look, and more features than before. It is the quintessential commuter bike, offering sprightly performance, nimble handling, high fuel-efficiency, and at Rs 50, 100 (ex-showroom, Delhi) it is easy on the pocket to buy and maintain. It may have a slightly harsh ride, and it may feel cramped for tall riders, but look past these minor quirks, and you have a motorcycle that’ll serve you reliably for years to come.

Special Thanks to Adyar Hero, Chennai, for providing us the Hero Splendor for this review